Dual function self-pressurized aerosol actuator overcap

Abstract

An overcap for a self-pressurized aerosol container is disclosed that dispenses the contents of the container as an aerosol spray in either an intermittent or continuous manner. The overcap is particularly useful in conjunction with the delivery of a fine particle size insecticide spray or fog and is economical to manufacture because it has few moving parts. The overcap comprises a shell containing an aerosol actuator button that further contains a mutually cooperable, releasably locking engagement. Intermittent aerosol dispensing is achieved without interference by the engagement. Continuous aerosol dispensing is achieved by having the user position a movable engagement so that it engages the other engagement while the actuator button is held by the user in its dispensing position. The user then releases the actuator button and the engagement retains the actuator button in the atomization position for continuous spraying. The second engagement may be released to stop the continuous spray simply by again pressing the actuator button.

That which we claim is: 
     
       1. An aerosol actuator overcap for a self-pressurized container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem with a free end extending away from the valve and a hollow bore placing the free end in pressurized flow communication with the liquid when the valve stem is moved from its normally closed position to an open position, the overcap comprising a shell adapted to be fixed to an outside surface of the container in such a manner that   a cavity of an aerosol actuator button, the aerosol button being movably fixed to the shell and containing a top and bottom portion where the cavity is located in the bottom portion thereof and is in flow communication with an orifice in the top portion of the actuator button facing away from the container, is adapted to sealingly receive the free end of the valve stem such that the hollow bore is placed in flow communication with the orifice to permit atomization of the liquid outside of the container when the actuator button and the stem are moved from a normal non-atomizing position with the valve stem in its closed position to an atomizing position with the valve stem in its open position,   a first engagement means formed on a surface of the actuator button, and   a second engagement means that is flexibly affixed to the overcap in a normally non-engaging position and is movable by a user to an engaging position for locking engagement with the first engagement means, wherein the aerosol actuator button may be unrestrictedly moved by the user to and from the atomizing position while the second engagement means is in its non-engaging position, and   wherein the second engagement means is manually engageable with the first engagement means by the user while the aerosol actuator button is held in the atomizing position to retain the actuator button in its atomizing position and thereby provide a continuous flow of atomized liquid from the container, and   wherein the continuous flow of atomized liquid may be stopped when the user moves the actuator button in the direction of the atomizing position a sufficient amount to permit the second engagement means to return to its non-engaged position without any contact of the second engagement means by the user, thereby permitting the actuator button to return to its normal non-atomizing position.     
     
     
       2. The overcap of claim 1 wherein the actuator button comprises a hollow body flexibly attached to the actuator button by way of at least one flexible link and wherein the hollow body contains the cavity which is sealingly received by the valve stem. 
     
     
       3. The overcap of claim 1 wherein the first engagement means is in the form of a catch and the second engagement means is in the form of an arm having a living hinge connected to the overcap wherein the living hinge retains the arm in the non-engaging position and an end opposite the living hinge wherein the end of the arm releasably locks together with the catch to retain the actuator button in the atomizing position. 
     
     
       4. The overcap of claim 3 wherein the catch is formed on a surface of the actuator button and the arm of the living hinge is flexibly affixed to the shell. 
     
     
       5. The overcap of claim 4 wherein the actuator button comprises a hollow body flexibly attached to the actuator button by way of at least one flexible link and wherein the hollow body contains the cavity which is sealingly received by the valve stem. 
     
     
       6. An aerosol actuator overcap for a self-pressurized container having a central long axis and being filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem with a free end extending away from the valve and a hollow bore placing the free end in pressurized flow communication with the liquid when the valve stem is moved from its normally closed position to an open position, the overcap comprising a shell adapted to be fixed to an outside surface of the container in such a manner that   a cavity of an aerosol actuator button, the aerosol button being movably fixed to the shell at a hinge point and comprising a vertical portion extending parallel to the central long axis of the container on which it is to be affixed from the hinge point to a horizontal portion which is perpendicular to the vertical portion and extends over the valve and the horizontal portion has a top and bottom portion where the cavity is located in the bottom portion thereof and is in flow communication with an orifice in the top portion facing away from the container, is adapted to sealingly receive the free end of the valve stem such that the hollow bore is placed in flow communication with the orifice to permit atomization of the liquid outside of the container when the actuator button and the stem are moved from a normal non-atomizing position with the valve stem in its closed position to an atomizing position with the valve stem in its open position,   a catch formed on a surface of the actuator button, and   an arm that is flexibly affixed to the shell by way of a living hinge in a normally non-engaging position and is movable by a user to an engaging position for releasable locking engagement with the catch, wherein the aerosol actuator button may be unrestrictedly moved by the user to and from the atomizing position while the arm is in its non-engaging position, and   wherein the arm is manually engageable with the catch by the user while the aerosol actuator button is held in the atomizing position to retain the actuator button in its atomizing position and thereby provide a continuous flow of atomized liquid from the container, and   wherein the continuous flow of atomized liquid may be stopped when the user moves the actuator button a sufficient amount in the direction of the atomizing position to permit the arm to return to its non-engaged position without any contact of the arm by the user, thereby permitting the actuator button to return to its normal non-atomizing position.     
     
     
       7. The overcap of claim 6 wherein the horizontal portion comprises a hollow body flexibly attached to the horizontal portion by way of at least one flexible link and wherein the hollow body contains the cavity which is sealingly received by the valve stem. 
     
     
       8. The overcap of claim 6 wherein the first engagement means is in the form of a catch and the second engagement means is in the form of an arm having a living hinge connected to the overcap wherein the living hinge retains the arm in the non-engaging position and an end opposite the living hinge wherein the end of the arm releasably locks together with the catch to retain the actuator button in the atomizing position. 
     
     
       9. The overcap of claim 8 wherein the catch is formed on a surface of the actuator button and the arm of the living hinge is flexibly affixed to the shell. 
     
     
       10. The overcap of claim 9 wherein the actuator button comprises a hollow body flexibly attached to the actuator button by way of at least one flexible link and wherein the hollow body contains the cavity which is sealingly received by the valve stem. 
     
     
       11. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 1 is affixed. 
     
     
       12. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 2 is affixed. 
     
     
       13. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 3 is affixed. 
     
     
       14. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 4 is affixed. 
     
     
       15. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 5 is affixed. 
     
     
       16. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 6 is affixed. 
     
     
       17. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 7 is affixed. 
     
     
       18. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 8 is affixed. 
     
     
       19. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 9 is affixed. 
     
     
       20. A self-pressurized aerosol container filled with an atomizable liquid and fitted at one end with an aerosol valve having a valve stem on which container the overcap of claim 10 is affixed.